Emperor Qianlong's Office Chair
Emperor Qianlong's renowned office chair is the antler chair, which boasts a unique structure and function, serving as an outstanding representative of Qing Dynasty court furniture.
In terms of materials, the antler chair uses the antlers of a large red deer hunted personally by Emperor Qianlong as its core material. Apart from the seat surface made of nanmu wood (there is also a theory that it is made of huanghuali wood), the backrest, armrests, seat frame, and legs of the chair are all pieced together from antlers. The joints are wrapped and reinforced with crab-patterned copper-plated gold components, enhancing both structural stability and decorative appeal. The footrest part features a tread surface made of red sandalwood, adorned with short antlers, creating a contrast in materials and a harmonious craftsmanship.
Regarding structural design, the antler chair adopts a "round-back chair" structure. The backrest is crafted from the entire antler of a male deer, with the base of the antler connected to the skull and the branches symmetrically distributed, replacing the goose-neck and sickle-shaped rods of traditional round-back chairs. Two antlers serve as supports at the back, with a panel inserted in the middle to form the main body of the backrest. The sides of the seat surface are exquisitely bordered with ox horns, with an ivory strip inserted in the middle as a dividing line. On both sides, bone-carved cloud-patterned seat teeth are inlaid, naturally connecting with the antler round back. At the front, a "footrest" is attached, made of four feet from the antlers of two young deer, resulting in a cohesive overall design.
In terms of functional characteristics, the antler chair exhibits extremely high symmetry, with a similarity rate of over 95%. According to historical records, craftsmen spent approximately nine months creating this chair, demonstrating exquisite craftsmanship. Its uniqueness lies in the design of the natural antler branchesโthese branchesๆฐๅฅฝ (coincidentally, here it means 'happen to') correspond to the acupuncture points on the human back. When Emperor Qianlong sat on the chair and leaned against the backrest, the antler branches could naturally massage the acupuncture points, relieving physical fatigue and combining practicality with health benefits. Additionally, the hardness of the antler material and the reinforcement with copper components endow the chair with both durability and artistic appeal, reflecting the pursuit of "fine materials and exquisite craftsmanship" in Qing Dynasty court furniture.
The antler chair is not only a practical tool for Emperor Qianlong's office work but also integrates hunting culture, traditional Chinese medicine health preservation, and court aesthetics, becoming a masterpiece of Qing Dynasty royal craftsmanship.
